Space the Nation

Ana and Dan hang onto their shopping bags for this slog through one of the most downbeat takes on the apocalypse that is not actively promoting a cult. CONTENT WARNING: For people who watch the news.

Ana and Dan would never leave Rusty outside the fallout shelter. We discuss the movie that made Gen X the nihilist losers we are—and find more humanity than we remembered. This is the first of three in our Nuclear Winter 2025 series (Threads and The Postman are dropping soon).CONTENT WARNING: Not intended as commentary on current events, but you may find yourself reminded. Also, there's some IR in this episode.

Ana and Dan wish you a happy Valentine's Day, this podcast will erase itself as it plays. Revisiting this scifi art-house classic after 20 years reveals some of its deep flaws and something about Young Dan's wistful notions about bookish young men and Manic Pixie Dream Girls. If you loved this episode's saltiness about saccharine tales, perhaps it would make a good gift for the sober sweetheart of your dreams?

For the last day of Fishmas, my true love gave to me an extremely well-produced piece of sh*t—and a partridge in a pear tree! Dan and I dive into The Prophecy, an Audible Original that proves our thesis: Laurence Fishburne makes everything better. We attempt to untangle its apocalyptic theology, its oddly specific hydrology content (like, really specific), and its absolute refusal to acknowledge how national security actually works. Come for the biblical name drops, stay for the moment I realize I’ve accidentally hate-listened to the whole thing.

Dan and Ana stop fighting long enough to have a civilized drink. We're wrapping up Fishmas, the most wonderful time of the year, with what might be the most delightful installment yet. There's a lot of discussion of Chapter One in this episode; you'll likely need to watch both to fully appreciate both Chapter Two and this discussion! 

Dan and Ana are in a blood feud with the Super-Podcasters; don't get in their way. This may be one of the most less-than-the-sum-of-its-parts movies we've ever seen! Two Oscar winners are in this movie! And Walter Goggins! Topher Grace is genuinely funny. And yet. And yet. There is less IR in this movie than you'd think, but a surprisingly robust critique of capitalism.

Just been a little bit since we saw you and thought we'd check in.We had some behind-the-scenes stuff get more bumpy than usual! We're good now but we appreciate your patience with our little hobby pod and we hope you're doing ok.

Christmas comes but once a year, but Fishmas lasts all year long--at least as Dan and I practice it. We've had some personal and professional chaos over the past month, so forgive our tardiness. The good news is that the wait is worth it, which is more than you can say about this sequel to The Matrix! It has not aged particularly well! But Dan liked the Luddite rave. More to come very soon and we love you very much.

I'm dreaming of a terrible movie / Just like the ones Dan nominates / Where the plot is leaden / And acting deadens / But Laurence Fishburne's charisma dominates, so dominates...Continuing Fishmas with one of the worst movies we've done for this pod--and Fishburne is still fantastic. Look for our other Fishmas classics on the feed! Become a Patron to skip the ads!